24 Walk with Patientiam (1/2)

It was a few hours before James heard Briar start to climb the tree they were in.

As he was climbing, Lilly startled James when she suddenly jerked in his arms.

She sat up and looked around. 'What….What time is it?'

'Around 3pm,' Briar said.

'Briar?…What's going on?'

'We were hoping you could tell us that,' he replied. 'You've been unresponsive for a while.'

'Did something happen while you were healing me?' James asked, head lowered.

Lilly turned to look at him and groaned.

'Lilly?' Both men asked. Briar moved closer and James wrapped his arms around her to get her to lean on him.

'Lilly, what's wrong?' James asked.

'Tender energy lines.' A few tears slipped into the grooves on her face and fell onto James' hand.

'May I?' Briar asked.

Both of them nodded. Briar started his work on Lilly. He found something that made Lilly tense and cry out.

'Briar don't! Leave…. Leave them there.'

'They're barely attached, Lilly!'

'Need...to stay. Should've been repaired…years ago.'

'But it's hurting you.'

'Not as much as they did when they first… broke.'

'Do you know how to repair them, Lilly?' James asked.

'I do, but it will put me out for a while.'

'How long is a while?'

'A month… maybe longer.'

'A month?! Nothing shorter than that?'

'If I do one at a time… I may be able to get it down to three weeks.'

'Briar, is there anything you can do to help her?' James asked.

'Honestly, James, I can help make the connection more secure, but until they can connect themselves properly, all we can do is wait.'

'Will recovery time be shorter if you do that?'

'Shorter than a month, but not less than two weeks.' Briar replied.

'Lilly?'

'Only if you will do one thing…, James.' she said.

'What's that?'

'Once I'm asleep… go with Briar.'

'What if you need me?' he asked.

'The animals will know if I need help and come get you.… Promise?'

'Okay.'

Lilly nodded her consent and Briar made the connections more secure, but not without causing Lilly more pain. As he finished the last one, Lilly's body relaxed in sleep. James held her close until Briar put a hand on his shoulder. Nodding, he laid her down gently. Briar helped him get down from the tree and, a little reluctantly, left. The walk back to where Briar worked took a few hours. Sapientiis and Patientiam were waiting for them.

'Hi James,' Patientiam greeted.

'Hi.'

'Why so down?'

'Lilly's recovering.'

'From healing your eyes?' Sapientiis asked.

'Yes and no.'

'Which is it?'

'Both.… You saw the knot in my eyes right?'